Weekend Friend Creates Summer Soundtrack with ‘Days Like June’

There are many ways to welcome the first day of summer, but with a heat dome bearing down on the Carolinas during this year’s seasonal transition, an indoor observation of the solstice may have been the most prudent pick for 2025.

Fans eagerly standing at the barricade of Amos’ Southend on June 20 had the right idea, as they lined up in South End to head inside and watch nascent indie-rock five-piece Weekend Friend celebrate the release of their new EP, Days Like June.

Through groovy guitar riffs that call back to certain classic rock tunes, the new project carries an energy that is both lively and reminiscent.

“Days Like June are a mix of warm, nostalgic indie rock with down-to-earth lyrics and catchy sounds that fit any mood,” said Weekend Friend in a joint email response to questions from Queen City Nerve.

Originally launched as a solo act by vocalist Bryan Wynne, the current lineup has roots that go back to middle school friendships for some members while having added newcomers from New York and Florida along the way.

Days Like June was the first project the band created together from scratch, strengthening their bond and making the result all the more special for all of them.

“The songs are full of upbeat energy, which has become a really big part of our live shows,” they said. “We’ve been playing a lot of this EP over the past year and it’s been exciting to see how people connect with the songs in real time. Now that the EP is released, we’re really looking forward to fans finally being able to live with the music beyond the stage.”

Weekend Friend had a chance to share that energy with what was likely its largest crowd to date in May as one of a handful of local acts invited to play at Lovin’ Life Music Festival.

The band’s June 20 show at Amos’ kicked off a summer tour that will see them perform July shows in Washington DC and New York City before returning to the Carolinas for gigs in Winston-Salem and Charleston.

Back in South End on the summer solstice, Weekend Friend had heads banging throughout their set in a packed Amos’ thanks to that signature mix of high energy and nostalgic style.

The band danced into the weekend as Wynne continuously interacted with the audience and danced alongside fans. He was clearly having the time of his life, showing immense gratitude toward the show’s openers: Charleston band Wilmot and Raleigh-based band Harvey Street.

Wynne was also sure to thank the many fans in the audience, his bandmates, and his brother Patrick, who manages the group.

Songs like “Smile” and “Wrong To Be Right” transported fans back to a simpler time when they could count down the school days ’til summer vacation. Each song brings up the question, “Wait, have I heard this before?” then morphs into something all its own.

Listening to Days Like June takes me back to two important moments in my life: the time when I stumbled upon a newfound love for classic rock and the annual anticipation of attending summer camp with my best friend as a kid.

Days Like June marks a return to the carefree days of summer — or the weekend, for those of us who have arrived in adulthood.

“Weekend Friend embodies your eager anticipation for the weekend, personal time, and connection,” describes the band’s bio from Lovin’ Life.

Throughout the EP, Weekend Friend flawlessly captures certain undertones of classic rock tracks while putting their upbeat and lively spin on each tune, creating the perfect soundtrack for those summer activities we can still enjoy as adults — whether driving a car full of your friends down the interstate to Carowinds or Crowders Mountain, or kicking back at a poolside cookout with family and friends.